Food for Thought at the EU Lab

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Aug 10, 2017, 12:41 pm

The EU Lab, currently delivered by Wessel Badenhorst via Innovate Dublin on behalf of Dublin’s Culture Connects provides a creative space for experimentation, new partnership development and modelling new ways of working with the people of Dublin. This is done through the co-creation and co-development of EU projects, in partnership with Dublin City Council, for funding applications to the EU.

In commencing any new project, the EU Lab must understand the needs of the stakeholders or users, prior to the formation of a concept note and proposal (in partnership with other cities), which would form the basis from which a funding application would be prepared.

The EU Lab have been working on a ‘Food & Culture’ theme. The first step for the EU Lab was to understand participants needs. People with an interest in the project area and the theme were identified by Dublin’s Culture Connects for an event on 16 June 2017 at the Wood Quay Venue, at Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices. Innovate Dublin also worked with a local events start-up, Connect the Dots who organised the event. The idea is, that based on shared interests and dominant themes, local and European partners can be sourced.

Everyone in the room had an interest in food, whether academically, professionally (food writers and entrepreneurs) or via social enterprises and community initiatives.

There was a broad focus for the day. We wanted to mine how local food-related activities and attitudes reflect the changes happening in the city. That could manifest itself demographically, in neighbourhoods, as a functioning society, as well as in response to global challenges, for instance, the need for sustainable development and living. We knew, a lot of conversation was needed!

‘Food culture’ was one of the main development themes from the afternoon’s session. Food culture is simply the variety of ways people produce, prepare and use food socially in a specific location. Four broad themes emerged from the discussions, namely:

Food culture as a means for local economic development

Food culture as a means for creative expression

Food culture as a means for place making

Food culture as a means for social change

When addressing these themes, a lot of ideas flowed from the event that could become concepts for future projects. As advocates of social inclusion and allowing communities to connect through culture, it was heartening to hear such eagerness for embedding a sense of place and belonging in Dublin through activities relating to food.

Communal feasts organised at street level in local neighbourhoods/parks/greens inspired by ‘Street Feast’ was just one idea raised. Another involved using food to integrate people from ethnic minorities and differing backgrounds using the ‘Our Table’ model to encourage food culture in neighbourhoods.

The discussions led to some wonderfully inventive ideas. Thoughts on how to stimulate innovation in the preparation, packaging and experience of food in the city included hosting food ‘hackathons’, ‘meetups’ and ‘making’ workshops. These workshops would allow for foodies, techies, makers and creatives to mash ideas and experiment with new possibilities leading to new concepts around Dublin’s food culture. Contributors on the day were also very mindful of the need to reduce carbon emissions in the delivery of packaging and distribution.

It was particularly interesting to hear ideas shared and debated of potential events and activities that could come out of the meeting of minds that day in Wood Quay. The notion of using food to facilitate social inclusion allowed the participants’ creative juices to flow. There was a lot of enthusiasm around creating exhibitions and installations of ‘food as art’ to stimulate citizens to use their senses to explore new possibilities in food and its social impacts.

The EU Lab aims to increase the number of successful EU-funding applications across Dublin City, by supporting and encouraging participation in the process and developing their expertise in putting together often complex applications.

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It has allowed us as a Cultural Institution to connect with communities, and to add their unique stories to the Library’s Collections where they will be preserved and made available to future generations. This project is really something to be proud of.

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The National Library

I have many memorable moments…the project was a great experience for me. It was fantastic and inspiring and I am proud of my own part in the creative and directive process and honoured to walk away with new friendships in an amazing community.

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Artist

Cllr ANDREW KEEGAN

People Before Profit Alliance

By bringing local groups to cultural buildings in the capital and engaging with local schools on projects that would inspire them to understand the nature and culture around them, you’d have to say it was a great success and I think more good things will come from this.

HEATHER HUMPHREYS TD

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

PHIL KINGSTON

The Abbey Theatre

Culture is an important part in building neighbourhood spirit and it is an ambition of Dublin City Council to continue to give the opportunity for people to learn and participate in the arts in their neighbourhood in all parts of the city.